LYNCHBURG, Va.- The Randolph volleyball team returned to its home court for the final time this season as the WildCats hosted Roanoke on Thursday evening. The 'Cats held a 2-0 lead but the Maroons rallied to take the next three sets and win 3-2.

With the first set tied at 7-7, Randolph went on a 10-2 run to lead 17-9. RC came storming back to eventually to tie the set at 20-20. The WlldCats answered with four straight points to go up 24-20 and be one point away from taking the frame.  The Maroons rallied again to close to within one but a bad set on RC gave Randolph the point it need to win 25-23.

Randolph trailed 4-2 in the second set before rolling off six straight points to go up 8-4. Leading 10-7, Roanoke used a 6-1 run to take a 13-11 lead but a four-point run by the 'Cats gave the home team a 15-13 advantage. The two teams would tussle back and forth with Randolph getting out in front by three points. Ahead 23-21, a kill by Meghan Chaffins (Temperanceville, Va./Holly Grove Christian) and an attack error by the Maroons were the last two points Randolph got to take the set 25-21.

Both teams exchanged points in the early going of the third set. With the score tied at 16-16, the Maroons picked up four points to go up 20-16. The WildCats closed to within three at 21-18 but RC used a 4-1 run down the stretch to win 25-19.

Roanoke led for most of the fourth set and was up at one point 14-7 and 17-10. Trailing 22-13, Randolph rallied with a 7-1 run to close to 23-20. The Maroons got kills from Claire Williams and Linsey Bailey to win 25-20 and stretch the match to a fifth set.

The WildCats went up 2-1 in the fifth frame but a big 8-0 run by RC put the visitors ahead 9-2. Randolph got to within four points at 10-6 but the Maroons picked up five straight points to take the set 15-6 and win the match.

Mackenzie Ambrose (Floyd, Va./Floyd County) led the WildCats with nine kills while Tomi-Lauren McGinnis (Ringgold, Va./Dan River) added eight. McGinnis also contributed six digs and four block assists. Lindsey Taylor (Virginia Beach, Va./Salem) was one short of matching her season and career high with 22 digs. Melody Washington (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) chipped in 15 digs to go with a team-high 18 assists. Kenleigh Gunter (Troutville, Va./Lord Botetourt) totaled 11 digs. Audrey Antesberger (Scottsville, Va./Saint Anne's Belfied) tallied seven block assists and two solo blocks while Logan Warren (Chesterfield, Va./Steward School) had six block assists.

Randolph travels to Bridgewater on Saturday for a tri-match with Guilford. The WildCats face the Quakers first at 2:00 and wrap up with the host Eagles at 4:00 p.m.